Amphibians of North Carolina
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sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Scaphiopus holbrookii
Eastern Spadefoot		......The males have a distinctive loud, harsh, nasally call that is difficult to describe. It has been likened to the second syllable in a long drawn-out meow of a Siamese cat (“owww, owww”) or the “waagh...The juveniles and adults are found in a wide assortment of terrestrial habitats, the key being the presence of friable soils that allow individuals to dig with the hind legs and bury themselves. Sites...The adults spend most of their time in underground burrows and are best found by either driving roads on rainy nights or listening for calling males during bouts of heavy rainfall. ...Information on the population biology of this species has been difficult to obtain because of the erratic nature of breeding and difficulty of collecting adults due to their fossorial habits. Local po...The status of the Eastern Spadefoot has proven challenging to assess because the adults are rarely observed on the ground surface and the breeding bouts often last only a day or two (Gibson and Anthon...S5G5
Lithobates sylvaticus population 1.....................G5TNRQ
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Hellbender		The Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is an unmistakable giant salamander that inhabits cool, rocky streams in the eastern US. Taxonomists have traditionally recognized two subspecies t.........Hellbenders inhabit large, rocky, fast-flowing streams that are well oxygenated. They are generally found at elevations below 762 m (2500’) and are most commonly found beneath large rocks or rocky she......Factors that regulate local populations are poorly understood, but competition for large rocks that are used for cover and brooding may set an upper limit on population size. Unger et al. (2013) condu......S3G3SCPS,E,UR
Hyla squirella
Squirrel Treefrog		Duellman et al. (2016) elected to split treefrogs in the genus Hyla into two genera. Hyla (sensu stricto) refers to a group of species that are found in Eurasia, while a new genus Dr......The males produce two common vocalizations -- the “rain call” or "tree call" that is made from trees during the day -- and the advertisement call that is made from the breeding sites at night. The ad...Except during the breeding season, the adults are commonly found in moist, forested habitats that are somewhat open. They have also adapted well to human-altered landscapes where breeding sites remain...The adults are commonly seen around the margins of wetlands during the breeding season, and can be found crossing roads on rainy nights. They are frequently seen around homes, buildings, and landscape...Local populations are centered around the breeding sites and may consist of a dozen or two adults at very small, isolated breeding sites to many hundreds of individuals where clusters of ponds are use...The Squirrel Treefrog is widespread and often locally common in coastal regions of North Carolina, and appears to have expanded its range in the Piedmont. Populations show no evidence on widespread de...S5G5
Eurycea cirrigera
Southern Two-lined Salamander		Eurycea cirrigera is a member of the Eurycea bislineata species complex, which includes a group of stream-breeding salamanders that are found in eastern North America, many of which are .........This wide-ranging species uses a variety of habitats. In areas outside of the Coastal Plain the larvae are most commonly found in lower order streams that are surrounded by hardwood or mixed hardwood-............S5G5
sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Plethodon richmondi
Southern Ravine Salamander		Populations of a medium-sized, short legged and slender Plethodon that occurs in the eastern US were traditionally treated as a single species, P. richmondi (sensu lato). Highton (1972,.........The Southern Ravine Salamander lives in ravines and on moist, wooded hillsides and slopes. Mature forests with a well-developed leaf litter layer, moist, friable soils, flat rocks, and large logs prov......Mechanisms that regulate local population sizes are unknown. Thurow (1976) noted that P. richmondi is generally much less aggressive that other eastern Plethodon species, which implies t......S3G5W2
Desmognathus valtos
Carolina Swamp Dusky Salamander		Herpetologists have traditionally treated populations of a medium-sized Desmognathus that occurs on the Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to eastern Texas as the Southern Dusky Salamande.........The Carolina Swamp Dusky Salamander is strongly associated with forested floodplains in the Coastal Plain. Specimens have been found in swamps, sloughs, mud-bottomed pools in floodplains, springs, and...Specimens can be collected by searching leaf litter, woody debris, sphagnum mats and other cover immediately next to the water's edge. ......Desmognathus auriculatus as traditionally known was recently split into several species, with North Carolina populations now named D. valtos, and more southern populations in Georgia and...[S5]GNR
Desmognathus tilleyi
Max Patch Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........This species is found is mountain seepages and headwater and low-order streams, as well as in adjoining areas of forests..........This is a very narrow endemic to the southern Appalachians, with the known populations centered on the southern portion of the Bald Mountains of Tennessee (southeastern Sevier County and southwestern ...[S1S2]GNR[SR]
Desmognathus perlapsus
Chattooga Dusky Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........In western North Carolina. D. perlapsus is associated with montane hardwood forests with cool, clear-flowing headwater streams and seepages and wet rock faces. Brooding females and overwinterin...Individuals are easy to collect by searching beneath cover objects along stream margins, under rocks and debris in the stream proper, or in the adjoining woods. They are most easily observed at night ......Desmognathus perlapsus ranges from the Alarka and Cowee Mountains in western North Carolina southward through northeastern Georgia into the Piedmont of Georgia and Alabama, and to the Fall Line...[S4]GNR
Desmognathus mavrokoilius
Pisgah Black-bellied Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........Local populations of this and other members of the Black-bellied Salamander complex are strongly associated with perennial mountain streams and stream-seepage complexes. The known habitats range from ...The adults are most easily collected by turning large rocks or other cover in streams. At night, they often can be observed with their heads or upper bodies protruding from burrows and cover objects. ......This southern Appalachian endemic is mostly found in the northern two-thirds of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and adjoining areas of eastern Tennessee. Local populations are common throughout the r...[S5]GNR
sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Desmognathus marmoratus
Northern Shovel-nosed Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........The Northern Shovel-nosed Salamander is an almost entirely aquatic species that prefers cool, well oxygenated streams at elevations of approximately 450–1600 m (1476-5,250'; Pyron and Beamer, 2023). T...The subadults and adults are most easily found by searching the riffle sections of small to medium-sized streams. Kick-netting is an effective way to collect the animals. ......This southern Appalachian endemic is mostly found in the northern half of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and adjoining areas of eastern Tennessee. . Desmognathus marmoratus can be locally com...S4G4
Desmognathus lycos
Wolf Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........This species is found in three physiological provinces and inhabits a wide variety of habitats, including low-gradient streams and seepages in the Coastal Plain, and rocky streams in the Piedmont. Pop.........This newly described species is common in the western Piedmont where local populations can reach high densities in high-quality, lower-order streams. Many populations have been impacted by watershed-l...[S5]GNR
Desmognathus kanawha
Kanawha Black-bellied Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........Local populations of this and other members of the Black-bellied Salamander complex are strongly associated with perennial mountain streams and stream-seepage complexes. The known habitats range from ...The adults are most easily collected by turning large rocks or other cover in streams. At night, they often can be observed with their heads or upper bodies protruding from burrows and cover objects. ......The range of this species extends from southern West Virginia southward through western Virginia into northwestern North Carolina where it is restricted to the Upper Pee Dee and Roanoke River drainage...S4GNR
Desmognathus intermedius
Western Shovel-nosed Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........The Western Shovel-nosed Salamander is an almost entirely aquatic species that prefers cool, well oxygenated streams at elevations of approximately 300–1500 m (985-4,921'; Pyron and Beamer, 2023). Thi...The juveniles and adults are most common in riffle areas of streams and are perhaps best collected by kick-netting.......This is a southern Appalachian endemic that is found in the southern half of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina, and in adjoining areas in extreme eastern Tennessee. It has been documented in extreme we...[S4]GNR
Desmognathus gvnigeusgwotli
Cherokee Black-bellied Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........Local populations of this and other members of the Black-bellied Salamander complex are strongly associated with perennial mountain streams and stream-seepage complexes. The known habitats range from ...The adults are most easily collected by turning large rocks or other cover in streams. At night, they often can be observed with their heads or upper bodies protruding from burrows and cover objects. ......Desmognathus gvnigeusgwotli is found mostly in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, with a few isolated specimen records from the Unicoi, Great Balsam and ...[S4]GNR
sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Desmognathus conanti
Spotted Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........The Spotted Dusky Salamander is a semi-aquatic species that is associated with seeps and small streams in many areas of the range (Beane et al. 2010, Tilley and Hugheey 2004). In North Carolina they a...This species is most easy collected by turning cover objects in the immediate vicinity of small streams. ......This is a widespread species in the eastern U.S. that extends into southeastern Tennessee and adjoining Graham County in North Carolina. Additional populations appear to be present in Cherokee, Clay, ...[S3]G5
Desmognathus campi
Savannah Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........Pyron and Beamer (2023a) reported that Piedmont and Coastal Plain populations are primarily found in ravines and similar lower-order stream habitats, generally with permanently flowing water and rocky.........According to Pyron and Beamer (2023), most populations are found in the Altamaha-St. Marys, Ogeechee-Savannah, and western Edisto-Santee River drainages in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of western South ...[S1S2]GNR[SR]
Desmognathus adatsihi
Cherokee Mountain Dusky Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........This species inhabits montane hardwood and spruce-fir forests with cool, clear-flowing headwater streams and seepages. It also can be found in wet rock faces. Brooding females and overwintering juveni...Individuals are easy to collect by searching beneath cover objects along stream margins, under rocks and debris in the stream proper, or in the adjoining woods. They are most easily observed at night ......This southern Appalachian endemic is restricted to high-elevation sites in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, and the Plott Balsam Mountains of North Carolina. All genetically ...[S2S3]GNR[W]
Desmognathus balsameus
Great Balsams Mountain Dusky Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........This and other members of the D. ocoee complex that occur in western North Carolina are associated with montane forests with cool, clear-flowing headwater streams and seepages (Petranka 1998). ...Individuals are easy to collect by searching beneath cover objects along stream margins, under rocks and debris in the stream proper, or in the adjoining woods. They are most easily observed at night ......Desmognathus balsameus is restricted to the Great Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina southeast of Balsam Gap. It occurs at elevations above approximately 1000 m (3281’) and primarily in...[S2S3]GNR[W]
Desmognathus bairdi
Piedmont Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........This species is primarily restricted to streamside habitats where it uses rocks, logs, and leaf packs for cover. It is particularly abundant in ravine-type habitats in the Piedmont and Sandhills, but .........This newly described species is nearly endemic to North Carolina, with a few peripheral populations in nearby South Carolina and Virginia. Populations in North Carolina are widespread in the eastern P...[S4]GNR
sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Desmognathus aureatus
Southern Shovel-nosed Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........The Southern Shovel-nosed Salamander is an almost entirely aquatic species that prefers cool, well oxygenated streams at elevations of approximately 400–1100 m (1312-3,610'; Pyron and Beamer, 2023). I.........This species is a narrow southern Appalachian endemic that is restricted to the Blue Ridge Mountains of northeastern Georgia, northwestern South Carolina, and small portions of the nearby border regio...[S1S2]GNR[SR]
Desmognathus anicetus
Foothills Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........Like many of our smaller Desmognathus species, D. anicetus is associated with headwater and lower-order streams that flow through forested coves and ravines. These habitats either lack o...The adults can be found by searching cover objects in streams and streamside habitats. ......This species reaches the northern limit of its range just across the North Carolina border in southern Henderson and western Polk counties northward towards Hickory Nut Gorge. Populations in North Car...[S2S3]GNR[W]
Desmognathus amphileucus
Nantahala Black-bellied Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........Local populations of this and other members of the Black-bellied Salamander complex are strongly associated with perennial mountain streams and stream-seepage complexes. The known habitats range from ...The adults are most easily collected by turning large rocks or other cover in streams. At night, they often can be observed with their heads or upper bodies protruding from burrows and cover objects. ......This southern Appalachian endemic occurs primarily in the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern North Carolina, extreme northwestern South Carolina, extreme southeastern Tennessee, and northeastern Geo...[S5]GNR
Desmognathus fuscus
Northern Dusky Salamander		The Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) and Northern Dusky Salamander (D. fuscus) as traditionally recognized by herpetologists have a long and complex taxonomic history, wit.........The Northern Dusky Salamander is semi-aquatic and lives in springs, seeps, and streams in both wooded ravines and bottomland forests (Petranka 1998). The eggs are laid in or near seepages and small st......Local populations are generally confined to seepages, springs and small headwater and first-order streams where fish are either absent or occur at low densities. The population dynamics of these relat......[S4]G5
Desmognathus aeneus
Seepage Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........Seepage salamanders are most frequently encountered in mesic hardwood forests in and around seeps, small streams, or moss-covered rock faces. The juveniles and adults are most commonly found in moist ...Individuals are most easily collected by searching through leaf litter or beneath moss mats near seepages and streams. In the southern Appalachians, individuals can occasionally be found foraging on t...Local populations are strongly affiliated with seepages and small headwater streams and are patchily distributed across the landscape where suitable habitats for nesting and foraging are present. We h...The status of populations in North Carolina are poorly known due to the lack of long-term monitoring of populations. Populations in national forests presumably receive more protection than those on pr...S3G3G4W2
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Desmognathus folkertsi
Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander		.........This species is primarily aquatic or semiaquatic and can be found in high gradient, rocky streams similar to those preferred by D. amphileucus (Camp and Tilley 2005).............S1G2G3SC
Desmognathus carolinensis
Carolina Mountain Dusky Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........This and other members of the D. ochrophaeus complex that occur in western North Carolina are associated with montane hardwoods with cool, clear-flowing headwater streams and seepages (Petranka...Individuals are easy to collect by searching beneath cover objects along stream margins or in the adjoining woods. They are most easily observed at night when they actively forage and seek mates on th...Local populations are centered around seepages, wet rockfaces, and headwater streams and often consist of thousands of individuals. Connectivity between local and regional populations may be hampered ...Desmognathus carolinensis is often one of the most common species in the Appalachian Mountains in mesic cove forests and on rich slopes. Many lower-elevation populations have been lost due to t...S3S4G4
Desmognathus santeetlah
Santeetlah Dusky Salamander		Desmognathus fuscus-like populations in the Unicoi, Great Smoky, and Great Balsam ranges in western North Carolina were recognized as a new species, D. santeetlah, by Tilley (1981). This.........The Santeetlah Dusky Salamander is a semiaquatic species that is typically found in closed-canopy habitats in the immediate vicinity of cool seeps and headwater streams (Beane et al. 2010, Tilley 1981...Specimens are most easily collected by turning rocks or other cover objects in or near streambeds or seeps. .........S3S4G3G4QW2
Desmognathus ocoee
Ocoee Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........This and other members of the D. ocoee complex that occur in western North Carolina are associated with montane hardwoods with cool, clear-flowing headwater streams and seepages (Petranka 1998)...Individuals are easy to collect by searching beneath cover objects along stream margins, under rocks and debris in the stream proper, or in the adjoining woods. They are most easily observed at night .........S4G5
Desmognathus monticola
Seal Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........This is a semi-terrestrial species that is most commonly found in or adjoining small to moderate-sized, rocky streams and their associated seepages. They tend to be restricted to streams with well aer...The adults can be observed at night foraging in and along the margins of streams. .........S5G5
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Plethodon teyahalee
Southern Appalachian Salamander		A group of wide-ranging large Plethodon species in the eastern US with a blackish ground color and varying levels of whitish or golden flecking, blotching, and spotting have traditionally been .........The Southern Appalachian Salamander is found in mesic deciduous forests. Optimal habitats are mature stands with a deep leaf litter layer, deep, moist soils, and ample amounts of bark, rotting logs, a...The adult are active on the ground surface at night except during very dry conditions. They can be found beneath surface cover during the day. .........S4G4
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Spring Salamander		As currently recognized, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus is a geographically variable species that appears to be a species complex with several undescribed forms. Brandon (1966, 1967) recognized fou.........The Spring Salamander typically inhabits cool, heavily shaded habitats with small streams or other aquatic habitats that lack predatory fishes, although the larvae can be found in permanent sections o...The adults are far less abundant than those of most other stream-breeding salamanders, but can be found beneath cover objects and on the ground surface at night. The larvae are best obtained by search...Local populations appear to be smaller than those of most co-occurring stream-breeding species based on surveys for the larvae and adults. In North Carolina, this likely reflects the fact that the adu......S5G5
Eurycea wilderae
Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander		Eurycea wilderae is a member of the Eurycea bislineata species complex, which includes a group of stream-breeding salamanders that are found in eastern North America, many of which are r.........The adults breed in running water and use habitats that range from small fish-free headwater streams to intermediate-sized streams that support predatory fish. Headwater streams and other small strea...The larvae are most easily found by searching small pools in headwater streams, or by using kick nets in larger streams. The terrestrial juveniles and adults can be found beneath cover objects during .........S5G5
Desmognathus wrighti
Pygmy Salamander		Prior to 2010, populations of a a tiny Desmognathus species that has a reddish brown to coppery bronze dorsal stripe with a dark herringbone pattern down its center constituted a single species.........Pygmy Salamanders occur primarily at mid to higher elevations in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They can be relatively common in spruce-fir forests on the highest peaks south of the Asheville Basin (Tilley...Individuals are most easily collected either by turning cover objects or searching the forest floor and low-lying vegetation on wet or rainy nights....Males studied by Hining and Bruce (2005) became sexually mature when 2-3 years old, while females appeared to first oviposit when three years old. Rossell et al. (2018) found that sex ratios in North ......S3G3SR
Desmognathus organi
Northern Pygmy Salamander		Prior to 2010, populations of a a tiny Desmognathus species that has a reddish brown to coppery bronze dorsal stripe with a dark herringbone pattern down its center constituted a single species.........Desmognathus organi is most commonly found in forests above 3600' (1100 m) in the southern Appalachians (Crespi et al. 2010), including the Black Mountains, Grandfather Mountain, and Roan Mount...Individuals can be collected by turning woody debris on the forest floor. They are active on the ground surface during periods of wet or rainy weather and can often be observed climbing on low vegetat...In southwestern Virginia, the males become sexually mature when about 3.5-years old and > 24 mm SVL. The females become sexually mature when 4.5-years old and first oviposit when 5-years old (Organ 19......S2S3G3SR
sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Desmognathus orestes
Blue Ridge Dusky Salamander		Members of the genus Desmognathus are commonly known as dusky salamanders because of their overall dark brown or dusky ground color. Like many plethodontid salamanders, they have proven to be a.........This and other members of the D. ochrophaeus complex that occur in western North Carolina are associated with montane hardwoods with cool, clear-flowing headwater streams and seepages (Petranka.........Desmognathus orestes is a common species at moderate to higher elevations in western North Carolina and is in minimal need of protection. ...S3S4G4
Desmognathus quadramaculatus
Black-bellied Salamander		.....................S5G5
Acris gryllus
Southern Cricket Frog		Acris is a genus of small hylid frogs that is endemic to North America. Two species have traditionally been recognized, each with formally recognized subspecies. Acris gryllus is a south......The songs of both of our species of cricket frogs consist of a series of clicks, often described as "gick" "gick" "gick" and likened to pebbles, marbles, or ball-bearings being struck together. There ...Acris gryllus it typically found in the vicinity of permanent or temporary wetlands such as wet prairies, seepage bogs, sloughs, canals, sawgrass prairies, grassy meadows, Carolina bays, farm p......Local populations often consist of a few hundred to many hundreds of individuals, particularly along small lakes or other large wetlands (Dodd 2013). Wright (1932) considered this species to be the mo...Although long considered common and abundant in the North Carolina, declines have recently been detected in the northern half of the upper Coastal Plain, with populations apparently no longer present ...S5G5
Lithobates sphenocephalus
Southern Leopard Frog		Frost et al. (2006) placed species in North American that were formerly in the very large genus Rana into a separate genus, Lithobates, to distinguish them from a large and predominantly......The advertisement call is distinctive, but rather complex and difficult to describe. It generally consists of one or more rapid sequences of 2-6 guttural notes or clucks ('ah-ah-ah-ah' or 'aka-aka-aka...The juveniles and adults are typically found in mesic settings, and often in landscapes that have clusters of wetlands of various hydroperiods that are embedded within forests (Dodd 2013). They can us...Individuals can be found calling at the breeding sites and moving across roads on rainy nights. Searching areas in or near the shorelines of ponds or other wetlands can be productive. ...Very limited information is available on population structure and population interconnectivity across the landscape. The adults are known to move long distances from the breeding sites and often quick...The southern Leopard Frog tolerates landscape disturbances relatively well and its use of artificial aquatic habitats has allowed it to adapted to human-altered landscapes. Although this species has b...S5S5
Hyla femoralis
Pine Woods Treefrog		Duellman et al. (2016) elected to split treefrogs in the genus Hyla into two genera. Hyla (sensu stricto) refers to a group of species that are found in Eurasia, while a new genus Dr......Dodd (2013) noted that the males have two distinctive calls. One is made from the trees and occurs throughout the warm activity season, while the other is a more typical male advertisement call that i...the Pine Woods Treefrog is strongly associated with southern pine forests of the Coastal Plain, but also can be found in mixed pine-hardwood associations. Although this species typically uses pine for...The adults are best found by seeking calling males at the breeding sites or by riding roads on rainy night. ...Local populations are centered around the breeding sites. Estimates of local population sizes are largely lacking because the adults easily trespass across drift fences that are used to capture many a...Despite widespread historical losses due to the loss or degradation of wetlands and the loss of previously forested areas in the Coastal Plain, H. femoralis show no evidence of marked ongoing d...S5G5
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Hyla chrysoscelis
Cope's Gray Treefrog		Duellman et al. (2016) elected to split treefrogs in the genus Hyla into two genera. Hyla (sensu stricto) refers to a group of species that are found in Eurasia, while a new genus Dr......The advertisement call is a loud fast trill. The trill of this species is higher pitched and occurs at a faster pulse rate (34–69 notes per second) than that of H. versicolor (17–35 notes/sec)....This highly arboreal species is most commonly associated with deciduous hardwood forests where it blends in well with tree limbs in the forest canopy. Populations in the upper Midwest at the western e...Individuals are most easily observed around the breeding sites on nights following afternoon thunderstorms or other rain events. They are also commonly seen on roads on rainy nights, and around homes ...Most local populations appear to consist of no more than a few hundred adults, and often times far fewer. Ritke et al. (1991) marked adult frogs that breed a cluster of ponds in western Tennessee and ...Populations of (H. chrysoscelis) show no evidence of marked declines in North Carolina and appear to tolerate habitat fragmentation and urbanization reasonably well so long as tracts of deciduo...S5G5
Pseudacris ocularis
Little Grass Frog		Pseudacris ocularis has been placed in several genera over the years, including Hyla and Limnaeodus, but more recent molecular studies place it with other Pseudacris specie......The call of P. ocularis is a faint, very high-pitched, repetitive insect-like “ts-r-e-ek” or “s’lick” that Harper (1939b) described as resembling tinkling beads. Blair (1958a) noted that the d...The Little Grass Frog appears to rarely move far from its breeding sites, although it is possible that individuals leave very shallow seasonal ponds that dry and become inhospitable. They can be found...The adults are most easily observed by finding calling males as the breeding sites or searching grassy vegetation around pond and swamp margins during the day or night. ...Very little is known about the population biology of this species. Local populations probably consist of a few dozen to many hundreds of adults. Some of the older accounts (Harper 1939b, Wright 1932)...Populations in North Carolina show no evidence of widespread declines in recent decades and appear to be stable. ...S5G5
Acris crepitans
Eastern Cricket Frog		Acris is a genus of small hylid frogs that is endemic to North America. Two species have traditionally been recognized, each with formally recognized subspecies. Acris gryllus is a south......To the human ear, the advertisement call consists of a series of clicks in which the interval between clicks decreases with time and often ends in a rapid, rattling sequence at the end. The individual...The adults and juveniles are typically found in the immediate vicinity of semipermanent and permanent wetlands during the warmer months of the year. They generally prefer sunny or lightly shaded habit...Cricket frogs are most easily seen by walking the margins of permanent aquatic habitats such as ponds, freshwater marshes or the shallow sections of small lakes. They often respond to approaching huma...Local populations often consist of hundreds of adults. One population along a 150 m transect in New York was estimated to consists of 628 frogs (range 343-1,681), while a second in the Florida Panhand...Acris crepitans has declined in some areas of its range (Micancin et al. 2012), but populations appear to be relatively stable in North Carolina. We have several older records from the western ...S5G5
Lithobates palustris
Pickerel Frog		Frost et al. (2006) placed species in North American that were formerly in the very large genus Rana into a separate genus, Lithobates, to distinguish them from a large and predominantly......The males produce several types of vocalizations, including an advertisement call and two additional calls associated with aggressive interactions with other males (Given 2005). The advertisement call...The Pickerel Frog is generally associated with forested landscapes with appropriate breeding sites, but can also be found in areas with a mosaic of forested and non-forested patches such as meadows or...The juveniles and adults are sometimes encountered while crossing roads on rainy nights, while the calling males can be heard during the spring warm-up and early summer. Individuals are occasionally f...We know very little about local population sizes or population structure for this species. The Pickerel Frog tends to be spottily distributed in many areas of its range. It is often underrepresented i...This species appears to be relatively common in North Carolina compared to many areas of the range. There is no evidence of significant population declines in recent years. ...S5S5
Aneides caryaensis
Hickory Nut Gorge Green Salamander		Populations of a crevice-dwelling greenish salamander with a flattened body, long legs, and squared toe tips have traditionally been treated as a single species, the Green Salamander (Aneides aeneu.........Williams et al. (2020) conducted a multiyear survey of A. aeneus and A. caryaensis in North Carolina and made only 12 observations of adult A. caryaensis, versus several hundred o............S1G1E
sciNametaxonomic commentsfield marksvocalizationshabitatobservation methodspopulation ecologystatus commentsS rankG rankstate statusus status
Ambystoma opacum
Marbled Salamander		The genus Ambystoma consists of 32 currently recognized species that are found in North America and Mexico. The terrestrial adults have stout bodies and legs, widely spaced eyes, and well-devel.........Marbled Salamanders are associated with hardwood forests, where the presence of hardwood leaf litter appears to be a critical factor for both adults and larvae. It provides both shelter for the salama...The adults can be found beneath cover objects in and around breeding pools during the fall breeding season. The larvae can often be seen resting on leaf litter around the margins of ponds in late wint...Local populations of the Marbled Salamander tend to be organized as metapopulations. A metapopulation is a regional group of local populations that are connected by the occasional movement of individu...Despite extensive habitat loss and degradation, numerous local populations of this species still exist in North Carolina that can be found in a wide range of hardwood forests and woodlands. Although h...S5G5
Ambystoma maculatum
Spotted Salamander		The genus Ambystoma consists of 32 currently recognized species that are found in North America and Mexico. The terrestrial adults have stout bodies and legs, widely spaced eyes, and well-devel.........Adults are most common in bottomland forests in or adjoining floodplains, but occur sporadically in upland forests and in mountainous regions where suitable breeding sites are available. Felix et al. ...The adults migrate to breeding ponds during the late winter and early spring and can be found crossing roads on rainy nights or gathering around the margins of ponds. Groups of courting adults can be ...At sites where forest buffers that surround the breeding ponds are intact, local populations are thought to be limited by density-dependent interactions that occur during the larval stage. Crowding g......S5G5
Pseudacris nigrita
Southern Chorus Frog		Pseudacris nigrita hybridizes with P. fouquettei across the Pearl River between Louisiana and Mississippi. The hybrid zone was estimated in 1976 to be from 8.7–14 km wide, but a recent a......The advertisement call is a slow metallic ascending trill with 5-10 notes that are readily distinguishable within each trill. Calling rates are temperature dependent, but trills are typically issued e...The juveniles and adults are primarily found in sandy or loamy upland Coastal Plain habitats. Pinelands and mixed pine-hardwoods are commonly used. Representative habitats include pine flatwoods, xer...The adults are most readily observed during the breeding season when they are calling from breeding sites. They are occasionally seen crossing roads on rainy nights. ...Local populations are organized around local breeding sites and each typically consists of no more than perhaps a few hundred to a thousand or so adults. Semlitsch et al. (1996) monitored populations ...Populations in North Carolina appear to have declined during the last few decades and this species is currently listed as S2 within the state. Most of our records are > 20 years old, and there are ver...S2G5SC
Pseudacris collinsorum
Collinses' Mountain Chorus Frog		Until recently, the Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) was treated as a single species that ranged from mountainous regions of eastern Kentucky, southeastern Ohio, and western West V......The advertisement call is a series of short, nasally 'wreaks' that are repeated over and over and issued about every second or so depending on the prevailing temperature. The call is distinctive and ...Local populations are often found near the interfaces of forested and more open habitats such as agricultural fields or roadways. Although breeding often occurs on deforested land that is rather dista...Local populations are most readily detected by riding roads on warm, rainy nights to search for migrating adults, or by listening for calling males during the breeding season. The small egg masses can......Populations in North Carolina show no evidence of widespread population declines and appear to be stable. ...S2G2SC
Necturus lewisi
Neuse River Waterdog		Necturus lewisi was originally described by Brimley (1924) as a subspecies of N. maculosus, but has been recognized since 1937 as a valid species. Electrophoretic and chromosomal compari.........Braswell and Ashton (1985) found that populations in the Piedmont Plateau and along the Fall Line were most likely to be encountered in clean, moderate to swift flowing streams with widths over 15.5 m.........Resurveys of N. lewisi since Braswell and Ashton's (1985) comprehensive study show that this species has experienced significant and widespread declines throughout its range. The most notably a...S2G2TT